Meanwhile, Sanchez, in obedience to the directions of his mistress had saddled her favorite horse, and led him to the front of the house; when Inez, declining assistance, vaulted lightly into the richly mounted saddle _en cavalier_, and as the fiery animal bounded and curvetted, her full but exquisitely moulded limbs yielded gracefully to each movement of the animal she bestrode, while she tried to check his impatience by patting his coal black neck with her little hand, whiter than the pearls that zoned her taper fingers, and speaking to him in those soft endearing expressions of which the Spanish is so full. No sooner had the horsemen, summoned by the bugle of Joaquin, all assembled, than they started at a brisk pace, led by Sanchez, through the bridle-path that led in the direction of the hut. It was the approach of this party which induced the gang who had captured Monteagle, to leave the hut in such haste. Monteagle was so exceeding weak when he reached the spot where the horses of the thieves were tied, that, even had he wished to do so, he could not have retained his seat, in the saddle a moment. So, after placing him astride a horse, they lashed him in his seat with one of those ever-present and ever-useful lariats. No sooner was this done than away they started in the direction of the Presidio Road, the pursuing foe, being less then a third of a mile behind them. ‘Who the deuce can they be?’ said Blodget, who rode on one side of Monteagle, to Jimmy, who rode on the other side. ‘It’s more nor I can conceive,’ replied Jimmy. ‘They can’t be police, nor even the vigilance committee, or why come from the Mission instead of the city?’ said Blodget. ‘They surely can’t be a pleasure party,’ replied Jimmy. ‘For the huntsman of Howth, that followed a hare to h—l, wouldn’t gallop over those sand-hills for fun.’ ‘And most certainly not at such an hour,’ said Blodget. ‘’Tis very, very strange. They still follow us,’ he continued, as he turned in the saddle, and looked back at the approaching party. By this time they had gained the road that—running almost parallel with the shore of the Bay—passed the Presidio, and went on toward the rugged promontory which forms one side of the famous Golden Gate. For a few moments they proceeded on in silence; occasionally glancing back to see if the party that so alarmed them, continued the pursuit. What they had thus far feared was soon turned to certainty, for they saw the whole party, numbering nearly a dozen, emerge from the shrubbery, turn into the road, and follow after them at a good round pace. ‘As long as we keep this distance from them, don’t force your horses, and we may yet contrive to escape them. Their nags must be pretty well blown, as they had a long ride before they reached the hut; and ours started fresh, after a good long rest,’ said Blodget to his companions. Leaving the gang of thieves to pursue their way, let us return to Inez and the party accompanying her.